Let me start off by saying that I am really pissed, almost out of control pissed to the point that I hate the whole body shop company. Let me tell you the whole story. I got in an accident and took my car to a place called "Sterling Auto Body Shop". My car went in the shop at January 15 and since there were delays they agreed/promised that the car will be ready on February 22. This pissed me off enough but this ticked me off today when I got home from school. These are the emails that they sent to my mom today.

FIRST EMAIL
"At this time because of the delay we had, I’m not 100% sure. We will continue to pay for rental until the car is ready."

SECOND EMAIL
"I understand you frustration. At the time when the car was towed, we also had at least 15 other Allstate cars towed in. All cars towed in were very severe hits just like yours. Also the availability of mini-coopers parts makes it difficult to keep with our projected date of completion. We did have to send back 3 hoods that came in damaged. We did run into some additional damage once the tech got deeper into repairs. I wish I had a better answer for you as far as making our date of the 22nd. Because of the delays and the car being here for 5 weeks , we have agreed to pick up the rental bill."

Now they told us back then that there was delay because of 1 hood. Now 2 days before the freaking agreed date they send us an email that there were supposedly 3 hoods that were defective! WTF? Sorry for my language but I hope you understand where I'm coming from. If I don't get my car this Friday I don't know what I will do to these scums.

 

I understand your frustration .. been there with a body shop job that was supposed to be 3 weeks and went 3 months

but

We will continue to pay for rental until the car is ready.

is a LOT better than many get ....

 

For whatever it's worth, my repairs stretched from a couple of weeks to over a month for similar reasons... Discovered more damage after they got in there—and poor parts availability. I've no idea why it takes so long to get major parts for MINIs, but you're not alone.

Sounds like they're trying at least. Hang in there.

 

Hang in there....sounds like in keeping you in a rental, they are trying to do the right thing!!
Bet the hood got dented by ups...it is awfully big in a box.....

 

Please Relax.

No one is dead. You're not tossed out of school. You're not dying from a disease.

It's just a car. (yeah, I know, it's YOUR car and it really sucks to not have your car back in a reasonable amount of time...but in the end, it's just a car that is easily replaced).

As stated above, you are lucky they are communicating to you and are allowing you to keep the rental car. Winter is the most busy time of year for body shops. It can get MUCH worse than this.

You also don't have to roll over and let anyone take advantage of you. Just be curteous but firm when dealing with the body shop.

 

It sounds like they are being pretty reasonable OP. They're paying for a rental car which means you're really not that inconvenienced. They're keeping you updated about the delays. I know it sucks not having your baby home yet, but it sounds like they just want to make sure it's fixed right the first time.

I was without my car for close to a month when someone backed into it while parked. Just a door dent and a busted mirror. They had to send back some parts that were wrong, etc. I had to bring it back 3 time before the door was fixed 100% properly (flush with other body panels and closed right.)

However I had a loaner from them (2012 Benz!) so I was pretty patient about it. Now the car is back, and it's 100% right.

Worth the delays.

 

Are you pissed because of the ever changing estimated date of completion? Or is there something else I am not understanding? This is what I gleaned from your post:

1. According to the shop, the delays are caused by circumstances beyond their control(parts and shop workload)

2. They have kept communication open.

3. They are paying for your rental.

Frankly I don't see a reason to be pissed. A rushed job will create more of a headache later. Rather, I'm impressed by the shop because they're trying to repair your MINI properly and not rushed, AND they're footing the bill for your rental when it wasn't their fault for the delays(according to them). That and the fact that they're communicating with you. No one wants to hear this when they're ticked off but CALM DOWN.

 

Chill.

 

Did you talk to the parts manager at MINI of SA? That's where they should be getting parts for your car. Is this shop recommended by Mini of SA, or was this your choice?

 

Bummer for you. I'd have to echo Jay H's thoughtful post above. It's just a car, and just a hassle.

 

Ahhh.. I was involved in a minor accident 2 weeks ago, as a rseult I have bubbles on my 2 front tires so I had it towed to the body shop to beging repairs yesterday.. I hope I dont experience similar issues!

Sidenote: I miss my Cooper already.. my rental car sucks!

 

Guys I didn't mean to raise hell but I was honestly pissed. This is my first car and I loved it a lot. I just hate that this has to come up when I have a lot on my plate right now since I am currently a senior in high school and I have my last SAT test coming up this March 9 which will determine whether I get in my dream school or not. Anyway I hope they fix it soon and again sorry for the bad etiquette I showed. I will update again once I know more information.

 

Hello all, I am trying to find out whether a cost estimate i received to repaint the rear bumper of a 2010 mini cooper hardtop is acccurate.
a friend happened to sideswipe my mini, resulting in paint scratches on the rear bumper, a small dime sized dent with a crack. Also, the side of the bumper appears to be unhinged.
My mechanic gave me a quote of $450-500, saying the bumper would have to be removed entirely and repainted...i am just wondering whether that is a reasonable quote to expect for the damage...

 

Sounds about right. Check with other reputable body shops and get a quote just to make sure.

 

I'll second it that it sounds about right. When my MINI got hit while parked in December, I was considering some additional work. I did have the bonnet stripped and repainted (lots of chips from the previous owner; that was about $700) and clear-bra'ed, and when I inquired about the front bumper cover, it was in the neighborhood of $500 as well. (I decided not to do it; it just wasn't bad.)

 

When I was in high school, I had the good fortune of greeting a deer very personally with the front end of my car. It was my dad's old Infiniti J30 that I had picked up from him very used, but loved that car since it was my first. The car had been out of production for a couple of years which complicated repairs and took my estimated completion time-frame from 2 weeks to 2 months. I did not get a rental and was basically just SOL and needed the car to get to and from work. It was a pain and I felt like the world had ended at the time.

Looking back in a couple of years, you'll realize that it wasn't a big deal and you will likely deal with much worse in life. Keep an eye on the car, but I wouldn't push the body shop too much more, unless you feel that there is really a bigger problem that they aren't addressing. You want the repair done right and not rushed, given that they will be repainting so much of the car. I had a Civic that was repaired in a rush and had to have a bumper re-sprayed because of it, which I'm sure is the last thing you would want...get the car back only to have to send it in for more work.

 

Bottom line is that it SUCKS to be without it (I know first-hand), and I'm sure it's way worse when it's your own fault. Hang in there... They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? (Whoever said that and thought it was helpful to say probably never owned a MINI!)

 

thank you all. that is most reassuring to know that i can trust this mechanic. cheers, mb

 

Sounds like a "shoddy" operation to me...I would have continually called and raised wholly heck too if it were me. For them to blame "x-# Allstate cars" on them not getting to yours is absurd.

I backed my Husband's Kia Sould into my MINI and both were fixed with in a week, mine was taken to a shop recommended by my SA, Husband's was done at his Dealerships Auto Body Shop, both kept in constant contact on issues when they came up. I also had to take Molly home with out her JCW Grill, but one was ordered and replaced during a Lunch Hour.

Hopefully, there won't be a next time, but just in case, get a recommendation from your Dealer first or a Local MINI Dealer, make a few phone calls to get a feel for the place, go see it's operation...there are many things that you can do to ensure you are dealing with a reputable company.

 

Calm down, believe it or not, you will live through this trying event in your young life and the world will not come to an end. Oh, the impatience of youth,
I want it and I want it NOW!

 

For anyone who cares lol, I should have Luigi back on Thursday, they are replacing the bumper, and repainting the hood. Just a quick question, is there anyway to make sure they aer using MINI paint or is that not necessary?

 

I've got one thing to tell you. CALM DOWN. It may sound bitchy, but trust me, I'm not trying to be mean or tell you you're unreasonable. I'm just trying to help you. Body shops are notoriously late with their repairs. However, you shouldn't try and rush them. As many have said here, rushing them will only create more issues for you down the line. When I was your age, I had my BMW Z4M rear ended. It was taking forever and because I was trying to rush them, they screwed up a quarter panel.

Oh and dealing with your SAT's is nothing I've been there. Wait till you get into the 'moving out' age and what not. That's when things get tough!

Just make sure they use a good system DuPont, PPG or something of the kind. Also make sure they use at least their mid-range products. They should provide all that information simply by asking.

- Paul

 

I am currently a senior in high school

The answer to all our questions, right there......

 

It's not necessary. They will use their own paint system and mix it to the specs provided by MINI. Make sure to check when you get it back that there are no drips/bubbles from dust landing on the paint before it dries and that it blends with the rest of the car correctly. Pick the car up during daylight hours so you can inspect it. Don't sign the paperwork before you've checked it out.

Hope it goes well and you finally get it back!

 

Thanks for the tips! I hate the Chevy Malibu they have me in... cant wait to get Luigi back!